Petrol is at 1.54-56 Euro per litre. Is it schizophrenic to support CO2 counter measures, including those that drive fuel cost up, and owning a 3.5 V8? Anyway, I have high hopes they get synthetic bio fuels up and running. The local busses all run on bio gas already, unfortunately that's not available as LPG.
 
Petrol is at 1.54-56 Euro per litre. Is it schizophrenic to support CO2 counter measures, including those that drive fuel cost up, and owning a 3.5 V8? Anyway, I have high hopes they get synthetic bio fuels up and running. The local busses all run on bio gas already, unfortunately that's not available as LPG.

The problem with the biofuel is that they keep chopping down rain-forest to make way for palms for the production of it. We're a tad short of growing space in the UK as out population is ridiculous for a small island.

Unless you do a load of miles each year the best thing you can do is patch up an old banger and keep it going using second hand parts.
 
New pump says I’ve only used an eighth of a tank not half, it is on a slope though? I don’t trust any reading to be fair :D
This is why I had to change the sump plug
AC267C95-B475-4F19-8A7B-5D136CCD5070.jpeg

This drop still has some of the flush I put through it left but is lovely and clean in there in comparison to previous changes
 
Otto is on the drive at the BILs now - so wife can work on the rust and I can do the compressor / solenoid block / reservoir refurb in the evenings / weekends.. Will probably also see about trying to service the dryer and stop any bits getting out to go floating round the system.
Jetwashed most of the underside this afternoon after work, ready to do some rust protection during the forecast dry spell.
Checked under the bonnet, top hose was firm when cold, header tank looked full, so did a careful depressurising and got coolant overflow down the breather instead of exploding in my face. Full to the brim cold now.
So warmed up and did a sniff test after pulling some coolant out to try and make space. Turned green (inconclusive) I suspect due to the froth being generated as he ran, and the only way I can see for that to pump up like that is likely a head gasket. Bugger.
Will drain more coolant to get a clearer test next time, and will also pull appropriate fuses / relays, etc and dig out the compression tester to do a check of all 8. Hopefully 'just' the head gaskets, but if everything looks low on compression it might be rings and / or cam and followers too. Joy.
At least if it is all done now and properly, and we keep him well serviced and regularly used he should last us. With 3 cars he probably won't break 5k a year most years, so 20 years would see us put another 100k on him, and a top end / maybe cam should easily see that.
Might even be worth something for rarity vale by then!
 
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Had an issue with the old bus today, felt like she was vapor locking at low RPM.

Seemed to improve/disappear after a few miles. :D

The Belt tensioner has started to jump around and make noise, so It'll have a new un fitted, luckily I have a spare.

Ooh and a service kit for the engine and auto box should be coming tomorrow
 
Otto is on the drive at the BILs now - so wife can work on the rust and I can do the compressor / solenoid block / reservoir refurb in the evenings / weekends.. Will probably also see about trying to service the dryer and stop any bits getting out to go floating round the system.
Jetwashed most of the underside this afternoon after work, ready to do some rust protection during the forecast dry spell.
Checked under the bonnet, top hose was firm when cold, header tank looked full, so did a careful depressurising and got coolant overflow down the breather instead of exploding in my face. Full to the brim cold now.
So warmed up and did a sniff test after pulling some coolant out to try and make space. Turned green (inconclusive) I suspect due to the froth being generated as he ran, and the only way I can see for that to pump up like that is likely a head gasket. Bugger.
Will drain more coolant to get a clearer test next time, and will also pull appropriate fuses / relays, etc and dig out the compression tester to do a check of all 8. Hopefully 'just' the head gaskets, but if everything looks low on compression it might be rings and / or cam and followers too. Joy.
At least if it is all done now and properly, and we keep him well serviced and regularly used he should last us. With 3 cars he probably won't break 5k a year most years, so 20 years would see us put another 100k on him, and a top end / maybe cam should easily see that.
Might even be worth something for rarity vale by then!
Is it possible for you to go the full hog NOW and have the engine 100% rebuilt and an uprated cam and new bits and bobs etc??? at least that way you know its all been done if your planning on long term ownership buddy. Spend to save has always been my motto.
 
Is it possible for you to go the full hog NOW and have the engine 100% rebuilt and an uprated cam and new bits and bobs etc??? at least that way you know its all been done if your planning on long term ownership buddy. Spend to save has always been my motto.
I think it will depend what we find. If it is just the gasket and no major damage, plus the lifters / cam looking OK then we will stick with just them at the moment.
If there is block cracking / liner movement then we would go the whole hog, with top hat liners and possibly roller rockers as well. It will all depend. If only there was a clear and unequivocal way of determining between gasket and block issues!
Given that it has only just started as far as we can tell (last 200 miles or so) and no white smoke / steam at start up I am hopeful we have it early enough for just gaskets. Then we can get everything else back into fettle before we have to potentially go big on the motor. Compression test at the weekend may help to determine it.
 
I think it will depend what we find. If it is just the gasket and no major damage, plus the lifters / cam looking OK then we will stick with just them at the moment.
If there is block cracking / liner movement then we would go the whole hog, with top hat liners and possibly roller rockers as well. It will all depend. If only there was a clear and unequivocal way of determining between gasket and block issues!
Given that it has only just started as far as we can tell (last 200 miles or so) and no white smoke / steam at start up I am hopeful we have it early enough for just gaskets. Then we can get everything else back into fettle before we have to potentially go big on the motor. Compression test at the weekend may help to determine it.
If you're considering doing the HG , consider upgrading to studs instead of stretch bolts, less strain on the block
 
Service time..
E3BTv6el.jpg


Old stuff out 15mm for the Thor sump plug.

aj1sFaal.jpg

L3BIdSul.jpg


Old Filter.

DIhxVk5l.jpg


New filter, Mann of course!

zIz3nEnl.jpg


Plug back in.

KyVjiXil.jpg


And of course it needed a test drive to Umm circulate the new oil o_O:cool::D

Upon exiting my drive a very nice 1972 Lincoln Green RRC flew round the bend and tried to take the front off my P38, he seemed to be battling with the steering on it... :rolleyes::D

That was fun..

I did end up following him a fair distance :D

Nowt better than 2 Rover V8's at full chat, :cool::D
 
Does anyone know where I can get such a thing as a stick on rear heated screen element without taking out a mortgage on the house? One on the Alfa is banjaxxed and in winter it's going to be a ball ache.
 
Service time..
E3BTv6el.jpg


Old stuff out 15mm for the Thor sump plug.

aj1sFaal.jpg

L3BIdSul.jpg


Old Filter.

DIhxVk5l.jpg


New filter, Mann of course!

zIz3nEnl.jpg


Plug back in.

KyVjiXil.jpg


And of course it needed a test drive to Umm circulate the new oil o_O:cool::D

Upon exiting my drive a very nice 1972 Lincoln Green RRC flew round the bend and tried to take the front off my P38, he seemed to be battling with the steering on it... :rolleyes::D

That was fun..

I did end up following him a fair distance :D

Nowt better than 2 Rover V8's at full chat, :cool::D
Was it able to stop eventually or did it just break down? :D
 
Abs fault is getting annoying now!! Why does it only show up when the car is stationary? If it was a sensor problem then it wouldn't work while moving?
 
Feck all except put it on charge, been sitting around all morning waiting for a firearms inspection,in the age of modern communication is a phone call too much to ask for.:rolleyes::rolleyes::mad:
 

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